Editors' Review

WindowBlinds version 8 brings a couple new features that include a brand new interface, better support for Windows 8, and SkinStudio, a theme designer that lets users create their own customizations.

There are four main aspects of your windows that you can modify: style, color, texture, and background. Styles are preset schemes to make your windows look new. Version 8 includes a couple new styles (including Win8, which mimics the flat style of Modern UI). Each style contains a substyle that'll modify a graphic or tailor your windows and taskbars to be more in line with your current version of Windows: 8, 7, Vista, or XP. You can also add or change a texture overlay to give your windows an even greater visual twist, complete with various color hues.

Version 8's more modern interface has made selecting a style much more intuitive and visually appealing. Preset styles are now showcased vertically on the left panel, with the selectable substyles and descriptions appearing on the right. Gone are the dozen tabs or so from the previous version and settings are now tucked away in a simple gear menu on the upper-right corner, mimicking much of the current progression toward flatter UI design. We actually found the new layout to be much more pleasant to use and refreshing.

Beyond an improved user flow and an ever-increasing library of downloadable themes, WindowBlinds doesn't really bring much to the table in terms of revolutionary features. However its only job is to make Windows look prettier and fancier than the original stock experience. Does it accomplish it? Yes.

A minor note is that though Windows 8 users will especially appreciate the greater control over their OS appearance, the Windows 8.1 service pack is just around the corner, as well. But for anyone running older legacy operating systems, WindowBlinds might just be the fresh coat of paint needed to make your PC look fresh again.

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Publisher's Description

WindowBlinds enables users to customize the Windows desktop interface with skins. Skinnable elements include the start panel, taskbar, window frames and control buttons to name a few. Personalize any of the default Windows themes or any skins downloaded from WinCustomize.com or create your own skins. Customize the colors, fonts and explorer windows and save your creations as presets for quick access later. The all new user interface makes customization easy and the large previews allow you to see your adjustments before applying them. Set WindowBlinds to apply a randomized skin at timed intervals and surprise yourself with an exciting desktop each time you login.

WindowBlinds also includes SkinStudio, a powerful skin editor application that enables you to design your own skins. Customize only the parts of the Windows interface you want to change and SkinStudio will do the rest. This makes it easy for inexperienced users to create a great skin quickly, while advanced users can still enjoy designing every aspect of the windows interface.

Allows you to change the background color of Windows Explorer or to set various patterns instead of a plain color. The white background color of Windows Explorer that comes with Windows 7 and 8 is tiring for the eyes and cannot be changed even by tweaking the system registry (WindowBlinds is the only successful method that I know of).

Cons

I purchased the software and used it for about 3 weeks. I use heavy multitasking every day. My Windows 8, 64-bit, crashed every other day with WindowBlinds. My system would either freeze (requiring a reboot using the power button) or undergo a blue screen incident. I tried turning off the antivirus and lowering priority of various processes. Nothing worked. I have a high-end computer with lots of memory and a powerful CPU. The problems ended only when I uninstalled WindowBlinds.

WindowBlinds messes with Windows system processes and sets its own executable process to the real-time priority: this is insane. Setting any non-Windows process to real-time priority is a surefire way to crash the operating system. Evidently, Windows is far too complex for a third-party vendor to mess with its bowels.

Summary

I do not recommend WindowBlinds because of the above problem. A somewhat better option is Xplorer2, which offers a replacement of Windows Explorer, allowing you to change the background color in the file explorer window. Still, Xplorer2 is less stable than Windows Explorer and crashes every now and then (without bringing down the whole operating system). Eventually, I went back to Windows Explorer with its unpleasant white background color. I reduced the size of its window to make it easier on the eyes.

Updated on Jan 30, 2015

You can change the annoying white background color to gray in most other programs such as Notepad and Microsoft Word (except for Windows Explorer) as follows:

one can only assume you do not really understand what constitutes a "high-end" computer... negative complaints like this regarding WindowBlinds are few and far netween, and are more often than not either your computer is not as "high-end" as you would like to think, or something else is causing a conflict... but i guess it's easier to blame WB and trash it than investigate further...

have used WindowBlinds for many versions now, on many computers of varying specs... never had an unsolvable issue... a 5 star product...

I did the trial for a week and liked it enough to buy it. I for one really like to be able to customize Win7 for a different look. Off Stardock's WinCustomize website, there are literally thousands of skins to choose from.

I've had a couple of VERY minor glitches but I'd say WindowBlinds runs great 99% of the time. The very few glitches I've had: 1) When changing skins, the Windowblinds window lost the top of the window so that I couldn't move it or minimize it to the taskbar tray. Had to right-click its icon in the taskbar and select "Close window". 2) Once or twice, a folder was displayed like it is normally in Win7 instead of how it should be when customized with Windowblinds. Switching to a new skin and then switching back solved the problem. I'm not having that problem now, maybe I just needed to clear my cache or something. Like I said, very minor.

Honestly, I don't understand some of the complaints that I'm seeing here. A few people complained about glitches and problems, then admitted that they went and downloaded a version that was cracked or used a keygen. Duh! That's like buying a TV that "fell off a truck" in a part of town that you're scared to go to at night. You're almost guaranteed to have problems.

What's even more baffling is the reason they did it: they didn't want to have to buy the program for the whopping $10 that Stardock charges. What's it worth to avoid the trojans, malware, and malicious rootkits that infest keygens and cracked programs? If that stuff crashes your computer or causes you to get your identity stolen, then you'll wish you'd paid for the program, which costs the same as a meal for you and your kid brother at McDonald's. People are willing to drop a grand on a computer and $500 on a cell phone but $10 for Windowblinds is just awful. I'm not getting that.

I also saw a criticism that you get bombed with ads when you're running the trial version. That's not a true statement. Every 3rd or 4th time that you open the trial version of WindowBlinds, the opening screen asks you if you want to buy the full version or keep using the trial software. A single mouse click makes it go away. Stardock doesn't pound you with e-mail messages or put up random nag-screens all the time. Everybody's got their opinion. I never considered it to be a nuisance and, in my book, their approach does not constitute "inundating" you with ads.

Some skins on the website look and operate better than others (since they're created and submitted by the program users) but I think the ratings are accurate and everybody can find something that they're very satisfied with. The browsing and trying different skins is part of the fun unless you're a total sourpuss who is sure up-front that you're going to hate it.

installed windowblinds and start8, and i am using vaio duo 11. when i cant seem to customize settings in start8, i try to restart the pc. windowblinds started to generate crashes and hangs right after i log-in. lucky i am just trying it, uninstalled. but the bad news is i bought start8, it is generating hangs too. windowblinds seem to make other vaio app and mcafee software to crash.

When I downloaded Windows 8 I didn't know I couldn't go back to Windows 7. It's hard for me to find what I need. Having this program it gives me the Windows 7 opening window and I LOVE that! I loved Windows 7!!

Cons

I haven't found any!

Summary

I love this program and would recommend it to anyone who would like to have the Windows 7 start button on the bottom left hand side.

It's the only thing out there of it's kind really, besides much more confusing programs that require much more knowledge to use. It does make things beautiful though.

Cons

There aren't enough people making themes for it.It doesn't run the best. It's too expensive, though Stardock offers a package deal with it, including Iconpackager and a couple other things that make it much more worth it. Iconpackager is ALSO the only thing out there of it's kind, and expensive on it's own. It also happens to be a great program though.

Enhances the desktop and allows you to choose the best look for the desktop and the windows controls. It is light on resources and needs absolutely no computer skills whatsoever to point and click at what you like and get it working.Cheap to buy and also good value. It's a program I started using way back when stardock first started out. I think that's more than a decade ago now. So the company has a good history and a VERY DEVOTED following and loyal customer base. Plenty of help and support on their website and in the forums. 10/10

Cons

If used properly and you take the time to understand why certain programs should not be themed (older games, programs that use their own theme plugins, and some software that is not theme-aware) then you will have absolutely no problems whatsoever.

No cons at all

Summary

It's worth joining the forum at stardock, because although it will work without any fuss and without ruining your windows installation, it can APPEAR sometimes in rare cases to have been the cause of a problem. Notice the word "APPEAR", because appearances can be deceptive. Usually any problems are caused because people dont realise that some programs should not be themed. Having said that, however, you will not encounter many problems at all. Quite a lot of people complaining about windowblinds get a problem and assume it is the fault of windowblinds, they then try very unmethodical solutions to the problem and if only they had bothered to read a help file or go to the forums and do a quick search they would find very easy to understand help and get a solution very quickly. It's not an essential program to have, it's some fun, and well worth the money. A reliable, honest, and dedicated company with a loyal following. Also just one last thing, anyone saying windowblinds interferes with essential windows tasks doesnt know what they are talking about. I would ignore the reviews where people say "oh it messed up my entire windows installation" because a simple mouseclick will restore windows to it's original theme.As I said, buy, install, enjoy, and if by some bad stroke of luck you do get a problem just visit the forum, you will get a solution in minutes. There are 1000's of designs to choose from and you can mix and match. you are now in control of how windows looks.BUY IT!!!!! it's a great way to have computer fun

Updated on Oct 6, 2012

Having read most of the reviews here, it's laughable that most people complaining about windowblinds installed the illegal cracked version which is infested by viruses and malware. That is why you pay for software, because installing illegal software using a keygen (key generator) is stupid, the vast majority of the keygens are infested with adware, keyloggers and rootkits. Ignore the reviews that say stardock windowblinds is a bad program, it isnt. Stardock is a reputable company with hundreds of thousands of devoted, loyal, and honest users. Their support and their dilligence is second to nobody else. They are excellent

I definitely agree. Install an illegal cracked version (which is probably full of viruses and malware) and then complain about problems. Duh!! Stardock has been around for 20 years, I think that says a lot about their company. LOTS of software companies have come and gone in that time.

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